More plans unveiled to improve cycle safety in Edinburgh

A public consultation has been launched by the City of Edinburgh Council as further changes have been proposed to improve cycle safety around the city’s tram network. The first phase of improvements – which included new red surfaced cycle lanes at key locations – were introduced last autumn with phase two – which will see Advanced Stop Line boxes installed – due to follow by the end of this month. Now the third phase of proposed improvements is out for consultation with the Council keen to find out the views of local residents before they are implemented.

Amongst the proposals for further changes are:

* Early release traffic signals – which would see cyclists given a head-start over other traffic at certain junctions (similar lights are installed at the junction of Leith Walk and McDonald Road and in other UK cities)

* A new crossing following cycle desire lines over the tram route at Cutlins Road

* Improvements to the traffic island and ASL box at the junction with Princes Street and South Charlotte Street

Cllr Lesley Macinnes, Transport Convener on the Council, said: “With the first phase of cycle safety improvements already in place – and, according to our feedback, well-received by cyclists – and the second phase just weeks away from being implemented, we’re now looking to the public for feedback on our proposed designs for Phase three, which we aim to put in place later this year. Road safety is absolutely paramount and we’ve been working extremely closely with our partners to refine these designs. Early release signals for cyclists have been credited with reducing collisions in cities where they’re already used so these are a particularly desirable option.”

Once these changes are implemented a fourth and final phase will see improvements to the road layout at the Princes Street/Lothian Road/Shandwick Place/Queensferry Street/Hope Street junction.

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